Alameda police technician accused of embezzlement

ALAMEDA -- A former Alameda police parking technician is under investigation after an internal review allegedly showed he falsified his time sheets and was paid more than $16,000 for time that he never worked.

The 26-year-old man could face embezzlement and other charges after the Alameda County District Attorney's Office finishes reviewing the case.

Police did not release the name of the former technician, who was fired Sept. 8, saying it was a personnel issue.

The man had worked for the city since January 2007.

He is suspected of falsifying his time sheets the same month that he began the job and continuing to do it sporadically through Aug. 28 of this year, police records show.

Alameda police Sgt. Steve Deutsche, who oversees the department's traffic unit, says he discovered the discrepancies Sept. 2, which led to the investigation and the man's termination.

His fluctuating work schedule -- plus the fact that his supervisors trusted the entries on his time sheet were accurate -- are reasons why the discrepancies were not discovered earlier, acting police Chief Mike Noonan said Friday.

The man was fired rather than placed on administrative leave because misbehavior or wrongdoing will not be tolerated within the department, Noonan said.

A police report on the case was filed Thursday. Total loss was just over $16,045.

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Along with asking the district attorney's office to criminally prosecute the former parking technician, police are asking prosecutors to seek full restitution for what they say the man was wrongly paid.

In the wake of the incident, police said they have kicked off a "comprehensive managerial analysis" of part-time employee time sheet procedures within the department, and that they have taken steps so that any future discrepancies are discovered sooner.

The case comes on the heels of accusations that Alameda fire Chief Dave Kapler used city gas pumps to fuel his personal vehicle, which led city leaders to recently place him on administrative leave.

Kapler has denied wrongdoing, saying he was allowed use of city gas as part of his contract through a verbal agreement with former City Manager Debra Kurita.